It was not surprising to know that Lin Feilu had come to greet the Empress Dowager, but it was a bit unexpected to hear that she even brought her foolish brother with her.
At that time, the Honourable Lady Lan gave birth to a child of the royal family. Although the child was born prematurely and he did look a little weaker, he was born fair-skinned and pure. She even held him twice and the child did not cry nor made a fuss. Hence, she actually liked him quite a lot.
Later, she returned to Mount Wutai. She only went back to the palace after practicing Buddhism for two years, but that was when she heard the news of the Sixth Imperial Prince being a fool.
The gossips and rumours in the palace circulated that it was Xiao Lan’s unlucky fate that roused the anger of the Gods, and that the retributions were destined to fall upon her children as karma. When the Empress Dowager first heard it, she reacted just like the Emperor. She was very unhappy about it, and since then, she never saw the Sixth Imperial Prince again. But on the way back to the palace the day before yesterday, she had an epiphany after pondering in deep thoughts.
If that was the case, then the Fifth Princess, who was Xiao Lan’s second-born, should be as foolish as the previous child.
However, the Fifth Princess turned out to grow up to be so clever to the point where even the Emperor could let go of his grievances, which proved that the rumours of ‘Gods’ anger’ were nothing but downright nonsense.
The Empress Dowager remained seated on the cushion as she enjoyed a cup of ginseng lotus porridge. The little girl with side buns was now tugging the hand of another fair-skinned and handsome boy into the palace.
When they reached the side of the table, the two knelt down and bowed. Lin Feilu’s voice was crisp, “The Fifth Princess greets Imperial Grandmother. May the Imperial Grandmother be blessed to live in prosperity and peace.”
The other child also timidly recited, “The Sixth Prince greets Imperial Grandmother. May the Imperial Grandmother live healthily and happily.”
The Empress Dowager said quietly, “Rise. Liu Zhi, let these two children sit down.”
Lin Feilu and Lin Zhanyuan sat beside each other as they faced Empress Dowager. Lin Zhanyuan feared strangers, so coming here with his sister was already considered a very brave act for him. He lowered his head in a desperate attempt to shrink in size, subconsciously hiding behind his sister’s frame and not daring to look up.
Lin Feilu however, was the total opposite of her brother. Her large eyes were darting around the room, full of curiosity and agility.
The Empress Dowager was surprised; she was the first grandchild who was not afraid of her.
The Empress Dowager thought of the same little girl that sat on the ground yesterday, fussing and crying as she threw a tantrum. With that image in mind, she wanted to laugh, but she asked in a soft voice, “Have you had breakfast yet?”
Lin Feilu nodded obediently, “Yes, I have.”
That’s what she said, but her eyes were trained onto the platter of food that was placed before her.
The Empress Dowager remembered something. The Emperor mentioned that besides being a glutton, the Little Fifth Princess had no other faults. Hence, she gave an order to Liuzhi, “Serve a bowl of porridge for the Fifth Princess.”
The little girl who sat across the Empress Dowager realised that her true intentions were effortlessly seen through. A shade of red started to colour the tips of her earlobes as she lowered her head in embarrassment.